Control apparatus



June 17, 1930. L. G. RILEY CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 8, 1925 INVENTORZy/7 7 6 /?//6)/.

JIWESS S. 6

v ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LYNN G.RILEY, 01E PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA CONTROL APPARATUSApplication filed May 8, 1925. Serial No. 28,990.

This invention relates to improvements in control apparatus and moreparticularly to operating means for the switching members of the controlapparatus.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is the provision ofswitching mechanism for control apparatus that shall be simple andefiicient in operation and readily and economically manufactured.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide for the actuationof the switching members of control apparatus and the locking of them in.predetermined positions.-

Another object of the invention is the provision of a resilientconnection between switching members and the actuating means to effectthe retention of the switching members in contact under spring pressure.

- Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will inpart appear hereinafter.

This invention accordingly is disclosed in the embodiment thereof showninthe accompanying drawing and comprises the features of construction,the combination of elements and arrangements of parts that will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with "the accompanying drawing, -in which the single figureisa view, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of a switchingmechanism constructed in accordance with this invention.

Referring now to the drawing, the control apparatus shown comprises aframe 10 having a plurality of stationary contact members 11 disposedthereon in spaced lation and insulated from one another. It

will be readily understood that any number of contact members may beprovided, depending on the purpose for which the control apparatus is tobe used.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention was prima ily designed foruse as a reversing switch and, while only one switching mechanism isshown, it is to be understood that any number may be provided in orderto effect, in any well known manner, the reversal of the direction ofHow of current in any desired circuit. Furthermore, the switchingmechanism to be described hereinafter may be used to operate the switchmembers of control apparatus of any type.

In order to establish connection between the pair of contact members 11shown in the figure, a bridging member 12 of any well known type may beprovided. As will be observed, the bridging member is pinned to aslidably mounted rod 13. In this particular construction. the roddisposed to slide in a sleeve 14, which is supported in a bushing 15that is mounted on the frame 10. The rod 13 serves to guide the bridge12 into engagement with the proper contact .mem-

. hers 11.

\Vith a view to obtaining good contact be? tween the bridge 12 and thecontact members 11, the bridge 12 is loosely mounted on the rod 13, sothat it may oscillate through a certain angle about a pin 16. Thus,when, the faces of the contact members 11 do not lie in a plane parallelto the contact faces of the bridge 12, the latter will adjust itself toestablish contact throughout substantially the whole area of the contactfaces. Since the bridging member 12 is thus mounted to permit a certainoscillation about the pin 16, in order to apply pressure thereto anddistribute it evenly, a ball-and-socket connection is interposed betweenthe bridge 12 and the actuating engine. As will be observed, the socketmember 17 is attached to the bridge 12 bymeans of screws 18. In thisparticular embodiment, in order to flexibly connect the bridge member 12to the main actuating members, the periphery of the socket member isthreaded to receive a tension spring 19.

The-ball member 20, which is shaped to seat in the socket member 17, isthreaded to receive the other end of the spring 19. Attached to the ballmember is a threaded projection 21 for receiving an insulator 22 that isprovided to insulate the brid ing member 12 from the other members 0 theswitching mechanism.

In order to introduce a resilient action in the operating members forthe brid e member 12, a resilient unit 23 is provided. As

. ing that is provided in the insulator 22. In

th1s manner, the resilient unit 23 is satisfactorily connected to thebridge 12.

In order to actuate the piston 26, a connecting rod 30, which may beattached thereto in any suitable manner, such for example, as byproviding an opening in the piston for the reception of the end of theconnecting rod 30 and a nut for clamping the piston against a shoulderformed on the connecting rod.

' As will be noted, the outer end of the connecting rod 30 is disposedto slide in a hearing 31 which is carried by the frame 10. The outwardtravel of the connecting rod 30 may be limited in a variety of ways and,in the particular embodiment shown, a set screw 32 is longitudinallydisposed in an extension 33 that is formed integrally with the bearing31. This set screw 32 may be adjusted to limit the travel of theconnectin rod 30 as desired.

In order to actuate the connecting rod 30, a crank 34 is keyed to ashaft 35, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing formed in ,a bracket36 that is cast integral with the frame 10. The outer end of the crank34 has a longitudinal slot 37 cut therein and the walls defining theslot are shaped to form guides for the reception of a crosshead 38. Asshown, the crosshead is rotat ably mounted on a pin 39 which extendsthrou h the connecting rod 30. Consequentf when the crank 34 isactuated, the

'crosshead 38' slides in the slot 37 and the connecting rod 30 is givena reciprocatory motion.

A second crank 40 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 35 and may be set inany position thereon b means of a set screw 41. Since the gran .40 maybe set in any desired angular position relative to the crank 34, thethrow of the latter upon the actuation of the toggle, to be describedhereinafter, may be regulated In order to give the crank 40 an angularmotion, a toggle 42, including two members 43 and 44 that are pivotallyconnected by a pin 45, is provided. One end of the toggle member 43 ispiyotally connected to the lower end of the crank 40 by a pin 46.

An air-engine or motor 47, of any well-' known type, including twopistons 48, having a connecting rod 49 interposed therebetween, isprovided for operating the toggle v42. The transmission of motion fromthe air-engine to the toggle is accomplished by providing a crank 50which is pinned to a shaft 51. This shaft is rotatably mounted in abearing formed in a bracket 52 that is mounted on the frame of theair-engine 47. The connection between the crank 50 and connecting rod 49comprises a crosshead 53 that is slidably mounted in a slot provided inthe lower end of the crank 50 and pivotally connected to the connectingrod 49. In order to utilize the crank 50 for actuating thetoggle 42, thetoggle member 44 has a rectangular opening provided in its outer end andadapted to fit over the squared end 54 of the shaft 51. Thus the crank50 and and toggle member 44 are rigidly. connected through "the shaft51. a

While the embodiment of the invention described above includes only onebridging member 12, it will be readily understood that any number ofsuch bridging members may be provided and actuated simultaneously tocomplete the desired circuits. Furthermore, any number of suchmechanisms may be provided and operated at will to make and break theproper contacts for effecting the reversal of the flow of current inpredetermined circuits or for effecting any other desired switchingoperations.

Assume that the bridge 12 is separated from the contact members 11, asshown in the drawing. In order to establish connection between thecontact members 11, air is admitted to the air-engine 47 to project thepistons 48 to the left, as viewed in the drawin As will be readilyunderstood, when t' epistons 48 travel to the left, the crosshead 53slides in the slot provided in the crank 50 and the latter is given anangular movement, whereby the toggle member 44 is rotated intosubstantial alinement with toggle member 43.

In this manner the cranks 40 and 34 are rotated counter-clockwise aboutthe 'shaft 45 thus projecting the connecting rod 30 to the left. Anysuitable stop, such, for example, as a bumper 55 which is mounted on theengine 45, may be providedfor limitpiston 36 is moved in the cylinder 24to compress the spring 25, thereby providing for the exertion of aspring pressure to maintain contact between the bridge 12 and thecontacts 11. The stop 55 that is provided for limiting the movement ofthe toggle after it passes dead center may be positioned so that theexpansion'of the spring 25 caused by such travel of the toggle is verysmall and thus the spring pressure exerted on the bridge 12 ismaintained.

Since the bridge 12 is disposed to oscil-. late about the pin 16, itwill adjust itself to seat on the faces of the contact members 11 whenthey do not lie in thesame plane. Further, the ball-aInd-socketconnection between the bridging member 12 and the actuating mechanismprovides for an even distribution of the spring pressure, thus tendingto maintain engagement between the bridge and the contact members.

When it is desired to break the circuit established through the bridge12, the airengine 47 is operated to project the pistons 48 to the rightto break the toggle and rotate the cranks 40 and 34 clockwise about theshaft 35. In this manner the connecting rod 30 is moved to the right,thereby permitting the spring 25 to expand and drawing the piston 26.into engagement with the set screws 28.

When the piston 26 engages the set screws 28, a substantially rigidconnection between the connecting rod 30 and the bridge 12 isestablished and the latter is withdrawn from the contact members 11.

Since various changes may be made in the above-described constructionand arrangement of parts and different embodiments of the invention maybe made without departi'ng from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim as my inyention:

1. In control apparatus, in combination, a plurality of contact members,a" bridging member disposed for reciprocatory movement, a toggle foractuating the bridging member, a reciprocatory engine for actuating the.toggle, a plurality of pivotally mounted crank arms for connecting theengine to the toggle and the toggle to the bridging member, andcrossheads slidably mounted on the crank arms to permitthetransmissionof motion from the engme through the crank arms to thebridging member.

3. In control apparatus, in combination,

a bridging member disposed for reciprocatory movement and means foractuating the bridging member comprising a toggle, resilient means and aball-and-socket joint interposed between the bridging member and thetoggle, said resilient means being provided to permit the toggle to movethrough dead center and said ball-and-socket joint being provided topermit the setting of the bridging member in different positions and toeffect an even distribution of the force applied to the bridging member,means for actuating the toggle and an arm interposed between theactuating means and the toggle, said arm being connected to theactuating means through a cross head.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th dayof April,

LYNN G. RILEY.

